CGMA® Finance Leadership Program in the UK

To attain the Chartered Global Management Accountant® (CGMA®) designation, candidates must meet the practical experience requirements (PER), which include three years of verified, relevant professional experience.

The practical experience requirements page has full details, support resources and FAQs.

• The Foundational Level is a condensed introduction to the concepts of business and finance.

• Business and Finance Essentials Skills Certificate

• Introduction to Business and Finance Understand how a business functions and the wider business environment

• Introduction to Financial Accounting Describe the financial accounting process and how financial statements are prepared

• Introduction to Management Accounting Explain the role of management accounting and how it supports relevant decision-making

Kick-start your studies with our Study Guide to support every step of your journey. Watch this video to find out how we can help.

Access the full guide here, through your FLP Platform login.

The Operational Level teaches essential business concepts and establishes a strong foundation in technical finance and accounting.

Digital Finance Skills Certificate

• Finance Function Transformation— Understand the role and transformation of finance.

• Finance Business Partnering— Explain main business functions and finance business partnering.

• Data and Analytics— Identify how data-backed analysis supports decision-making.

Budget and Cost Analysis Skills Certificate

• Short-Term Decision Making— Present information to support decision-making that considers uncertainty.

• Cost Accounting— Apply cost accounting methods to planning, control and reporting.

• Budgeting and Planning— Prepare and use budgets to impact planning and control.

Financial Reporting Skills Certificate

• Regulatory Environment— Describe regulatory oversight, standard-setting and corporate governance processes.

• Financial Statements— Apply financial reporting standards to prepare financial statements.

• Principles of Taxation— Recognise key international taxation issues and prepare corporate tax calculations.

• Managing Working Capital— Use short-term financing and working capital management techniques.

Diploma in Management Accounting

Receive your diploma after completing the Operational Level and the Operational Case Study.

At the Management Level, you’ll develop core skills and business acumen while acquiring more advanced tools and frameworks.

Team Performance Management Skills Certificate

• Business Models— Recognise the dynamics of organisational ecosystems and business model frameworks.

• Leading and Managing People— Apply management and leadership approaches that improve team performance.

• Project Management— Apply project management tools and techniques that drive change.

Financial Planning and Analysis Skills Certificate

• Cost Competitiveness— Advise on techniques to manage costs and achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

• Organisational Performance— Manage performance of organisation units.

• Pricing and Capital Investment Decisions— Support pricing strategies and capital investment decision making.

• Decision Making and Risk— Identify and manage risk associated with decision making.

Financial Statement Analysis Skills Certificate

• Advanced Financial Statements— Apply recognition, measurement and presentation criteria used in International Financial Reporting Standards.

• Long-Term Financing— Advise on sources of long-term finance and associated costs.

• Complex Group Reporting— Prepare financial statements according to relevant international accounting standards.

• Financial Statement Analysis— Provide insights about financial performance and position.

Diploma in Advanced Management Accounting

• Receive your diploma after completing the Management Learning Level and the Management Case Study.

In the Strategic Level, you’ll complete your finance professional skill set with new insights and a valuable toolkit to help you lead at the enterprise level.

Strategy Management Skills Certificate

• Competitive Advantage— Advise on current position and long-term direction.

• Strategy Formulation— Formulate and effectively present strategy to leadership.

• Strategy Implementation— Evaluate the effectiveness of strategy implementation and the importance of change management.

• Digital Strategy— Develop and implement enterprise-wide digital transformation.

Enterprise Risk Management Skills Certificate

• Enterprise Risk Management— Identify, evaluate and manage enterprise risks.

• Strategic Risk— Analyse risks associated with governance and strategy formulation.

• Internal Control— Recommend and implement internal controls.

• Cybersecurity— Anticipate cybersecurity threats and apply risk management techniques.

Corporate Finance Strategy Skills Certificate

• Financial Policies and Objectives— Evaluate strategic goals and policy decisions.

• Debt and Equity Finance— Analyse capital structure and strategic financing decisions.

• Financial Risk — Assess and manage financial risks.

• Business Valuation and Acquisitions — Evaluate decisions impacting business valuation and acquisitions

Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation

After completing the Strategic Level, the Strategic Case Study and three or more years of verified, relevant, work-based practical experience, you can become a CGMA.

Each degree is different, but accounting and finance degrees often qualify for entry at the management level, and business degrees often qualify for entry at the operational level.

Full members of IFAC-registered accounting bodies often qualify for entry at management level, and US CPAs qualify for entry at Strategic Case Study.

Direct, relevant experience in true accounting or finance roles may provide exemptions as well.